Attack Of The Attacking Things

producers: da beatminerz, mr. len, masta ace, nasain nahmeen

guests: apani, lyric
year of release: 2002
 
Small, short, compact. Maybe attributes that would fit Jean Grae as well, but I'm talking about her album "Attack Of The Attacking Things", that's only twelve songs deep, only lasts for something like thirty plus minutes. So in a way we want to be harsh and yell: 'scandal', as the truth in labeling law seems to be broken, as quite frankly, this is an EP so much more than an LP. But put that business card of your favorite lawyer shark down. It's Jean Grae. Be happy you finally get something more extensive than the odd guest appearance and solo cut here and there. It's Jean Grae, damn it.
Okay, who's her, you wonder? The shorty that lent her voice to the miraculous "Very Mercenary" album by Herbalizer. The lady that gave herself a good once over on the High & Mighty song "Hands On Experience", the comedian (?) that told you "How To Get Rid Of Your Girlfriend". She was on the Mr Len, the Beatminerz and the Masta Ace album, and that's only mentioning a couple of her surfacings. It's Jean Grae, one of the most entertaining (female) artists at the moment. Note the '( )', cause Jean's good beyond her being a good women emcee. She's a good emcee and if you doubt her spitting skills, then check out "ThankYa!", which at the same time is one of the best songs on here. Not because this is one of the songs where she doesn't get personal, but because here everything comes together, with a dope beat jacked by Nasain Nahmeen, that has some dude singing and enough Stax to have that 90s flavor.

tracklisting
1. Intro feat. Apani & Lyric
2. What Would I Do
3. Gods Gift
4. Block Party
5. No Doubt
6. SKIT(bubblin') feat. Apani
7. ThankYa!
8. LoveSong
9. Get It
10. Knock
11. Live 4 U
12. fadeout
Lyrically Jean doesn't battle, but she drops accepted low blows and sucker punchlines, talking about all kinds of shenanigans, with the conclusion being: you slept, I kept others awake, now you are easily forgotten like a dream. And as we will see, when Jean starts to comment her own songs with little drops (like James Brown'ish: 'take it to the bridge'), she's not only very funny, but makes her songs kinda live performance sounding, hence so much more personally addressed at you.
She does that again on "Love Song", where Da Beatminerz start up the song with "Stop, Look, Listen", that as we we'll see was later sampled for the beat. Jean now again comments what's going on, until the original is being dropped, and with a simple and effective scratch of the Double Trouble's door stairs accapella, the song starts, and things are just beautiful. Not as beautiful are the lyrics though, that look at the world through different women, with all of them being devoted. And as a result they are used and later neglected. And while we very much enjoy, naw love, Jean's comedic talent, here she proves how much she really observes the world around her. There's more of love being explored on the last song, called "Fadeout", where Jean admits to her hurt spirit due to a man that she must have truly loved, having past away. And it's scaringly easy how much we must relate to this, as our heart bears the scars of a love lost too. What only further makes this song incredibly touching is the Asian inspired beat by Koichiro, who must have sampled something that could have been part of the Princess Mononoke movie, or anything similarly in style.
Yes, the end is very sad, and totally opposite to that, the record opens with outload sillyness: the "Intro" gives us 'the idiocy' (to quote the track listing) of Lyric and Apani, with Apani then later on continuing this phone chit chat on the "Skit", doing something very unladylike. "What Would You Do" gets us through a 'spit clever things' scenario, with Mr. Len offering something effective. The Latin groove of "Get It" should make this the party tune. And Jean couples this with some flashing verses, rounding out the impression.
The reflective songs are lead by "God's Gift", where Jean takes the position of a male being, what then ends in parts of the lyrics sounding like this particularly portrayed one demanding the position of something higher. The Masta Ace beat on here is also one of the best of the album, what we struggle to amend to Nasain's beat on "Block Party". While the whole song is cool, with the message being about the need for people to go out and see something, as well as the reflection on how much they are actually stuck. This is very true, but the beat is lacking some of the grit, with the chorus then further softening it. "Knock" speaks on the struggle over another Mr. Len beat, before "Live 4 U" speaks on the pain and unmotivation to keep on with the life that seems to be necessary, with Jean finding reason in 'living for you', you being her mother.
So that's the record, that as Jean told me will be followed by another album soon, maybe even a double album. What we will never complain about, because on here she proves to be one of the strongest voices when it comes to carry a tale, making a reflection and observing worthwhile topics, as well as making sure that we laugh every now and then. Maybe that's the perfect combination of topics. And if it doesn't make a perfect album, then it certainly makes this an excellent album.
review: tadah
» back to top
: .   © 2000 - 2012.08 by urban smarts | contact